Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1889 — GENERAL ELECTION LAW, INCLUDING BRIBERY LAWS. [ARTICLE]

GENERAL ELECTION LAW, INCLUDING BRIBERY LAWS.

An Act concerning eF ctions, providing] enalties for the violation of the sam?, and repealing all laws in conflict therewith. f Approved March 6,1889. j Section 1. Be it erected by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the County 'v>ommisNiouers of each Cowuty in this State shall, at their first session after the takirg effec of this act, divide the townshirs f‘their respective counties into election precincts, and .establish boundaries of the same. Such Board of Commissioners enall designate 1 ’east one place of holding elections in each township, and every township in which only one place of bolding elections is designated shall constitute a precinct. Each crecinct sha’l contain, as nearly as practicable two hundred electors, based on the m m bet of votes east at the last election for presidential elect-

ors; but no precinct shall contain more than two hundred and fifty eletors. If at any election hereafter two hundred and fifty or more votes shall be cast at any voting place, it shall be the duty of the inspector in such precinct to repoit the same to the Board of County Commissioners, who shall, at their next regular meeting divide such as equally as possible so that the new precincts formed thereof shall each contain t-vo hundred electors as nearly as practicable; but no prep.inct sba.ll contain more than two hundred and fifty e’eetors, and shall report such division to tfie Clerk of the Circuit Courtof such to t.e Governor of the State, to S' gether with the estimated number of votes in each-of- the new precincts. If suefi' Board to .act as herein d ireeted, an y qualified voter of the county-may apply jfor a-writ of mandamus to compel a performance of this duty. Sec. 2. The Board of Commiss’oners of any county may change the boundaries 01 any precinct within such county, or divide any precinct into two or more precincts, •or consolidate two or more pre* cincts into ono, or change any place of holding elections, whenever public convenience or th? public good may require it: Provided, Thait.no such change, division or consolidation shall be made after the June term of such Commissioners’ Court next preceding an election: And provided, further, Thai no such change, division or consolidation shall be valid without giving due notice, at least one month before any election, t.y publication in twe newspapers published m said county, repretwo political parties which cast the highest number of votes in the State at* the last general election, and by posters put up in four of the most public places in each precinct: And;provided, further, That no precinct shall be enlarged so as to contain more than two hundred and fifty electors.

.Sec. 3. Township Trustees shall, by virtue of their office, be Inspectors of Elections in the precincts in which they res.de, and shall, prior to the opening of the polls in such precinct, appoint as Judges of Election two qualified electors of such precinct, who shall have been f re-holders and resident householders therein for at least one year, or householders for at least two years next preceding such election, and who are mem* bers ot different political parties and of the parties which cast the highest nunber of votes in the State at the preceding general election: Provide d, That if at least one week or more prior to such election the Chairman of the County Central Committee of either of the two parties that cast the largest number of votes in the .State at the last general elec•wldesignate a member of such party as J urge, having the

same qualifications as above prescribed, he shall be appointed, and such Judges, together with the Inspector, shall constitute a Board of Election. No person shall be eligible as a teember of the Board o 5 Election who has anythin" .of valun bet or wagoned on the result of such election, or who is a candidate to be voted for at such election, or who is father, father-in-, law, son, son-in-law, grand ather, grandson, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, first or second cousin of any candid te a. such election. If at any time before, or during an election, jt shall be made to appear to an« Inspector by the affidavit of t\w or more Qualified eleotors of the precinct, that either of the Judges is disqualified under the provisions of this act, he shall at once remove such Jndge and fill the place with a qualified person of the same politi a! party as the Judge removed; and in case such disqualified J udg shall have taken the oath of office hereinafter prescribed, the Inspector shall place such oath and affidavit before the next grand jury of the county.

Sec. 4. Whenever any Board of County Com mi sioners shall des ignate more than one precinct in any township it shall at rhe June ■term of said Board, next preceding any election, appoint in each precinct in which no Township Trustee resides, as Inspector of such election, some Qualified voter of such precinct, who shall have been a freeholder and resident housei.oldef in such precinct for at least ora resident householder fatal: least two years next preceding such election. Such Board c f < ’ounty Commjwioiiers shall hold a special session one week befoie each election, and shall fill all vacancies that ncay have Occurred ip„ the office df Inspector, and shall fill any vacancy occu nug thereafter at any regular or called session of the Board previous to the electiipn. Bi-eh appointed Inspsctor shall, before the time of opening the election in his preeinet, appoint two Election Judges, if the same, have not already been appointed, as hereinbefore provided, in rhe same manner and under the same requirements as provided for Township Trustees acting as Inspectors; and such Judges and Inspectors shall constitute the Board of Election for such pre* cinct. If any membe” of an Elec-, tion Board shall fail to appear at the hour appointed for the opening of the pel’s the remainder of the Board shall select a member of his political party to serve in his stead: trosided, That, if the qualified electors of his party present at the polls shall nominate a qualified person for such vacancy, such nominee shaU be appointed. If none of the members of an Election Board shnll appear at the houi appointed for opening th« polls, the qualified electorc present shall elect a board v x va voce, as. nearly as possible in conformity wjih the provisions hereof.

Sec. 5. Su'di Board of Election shall appoint as Poll Clerks two qualified electors of such pracinct, one from each of the two parties that cast tbe largest vote in the State at the last general election: Provided, That if, four days or more orior to such election, the Chairman of the County Central Committee of either of the two parties that cast the largest number of votes in the State at the last general election shall designate a member of such party as Poll Clerk, such nominee sh ill be appointed

Sec. 6. The Auditor of each county in the State shall make out and cause to be delivered to the Inspectors of the sever >1 precincts in their respective counties, at least ten days previous to any election,a suitable number of blank forms of poll books, containing one column headed “Names of Voters.” and an additional cokimn headed “Number of Voters,” [votes] and also forms of election returns, with the proper capt ons, forms of oaths, and forms of certificates and tally papers gopessary

to be used in all elections hereafter held in this State. Sec. 7. Before any election shall be opened, the Inspector and Judges shall each make oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of this State; to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties assigned by law’; that thev will not knowingly permit any person to vote who is not qualified,and not km wingly refuse the qualified vote of any elector, or cause any delav to persons off ering to vote, further than .’s ue- I cessary to procure satisfactory information of the qualification of

such person as an elector; that they will not disclose or communicate to any person how’ an elector voted or how any ballot was tolded, marked or stamped; ana that thty are now and for one year next preceding have continued to be Kna fide residents and freeholders, or bona fide householders, for at leat t two years, of ths township in whith such precinct is situated; and that they have nothing of value bet or wagered upon the result of said election, and are not candidates at said election, and that they are not

related to anv person to be voted for at said election within the degrees named in section three of this act; which oath shall be in writing or printed, and shall be subscribed and executed before some person authorized by law to administer oaths, which officer shall attach thereto his jurat; and such oath shall then be attached to he pall book, and with it return returned] to he Clerk’s office of ns county,as hereinafter provided.

Which oath shall be in the following form: State of Indiana, 1 County, | 88 ’ 1 do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the jtase may be) that I unit support the ConaMnUiou of me United S ates and of tibia State; that I will faithfully end impartially discharge the duties, as Inspector or Judge of election resigned by law; that 1 will not knowingly permit any person to vote who is not qualified, and will not knowingly refuse the vote of any qualified elector; or cau e any delay to persons offering to vote urth r than is necassary to procure satisfactory information of the qualification of such person as an elector; that 1 am now and have been continuously for one year next preceding this dab* a bona fide resident freeholder (or a bona fide resident householder for at least two years next precede ing this date) of tbe township in in which the precinct in whi U ‘ am to aet as a member of the Election Board is situated; and that I will not discloss or eommu* nicxjte to an; person how any elector has voted at such election, or howjany ballot has been folded, marked or stamped; that I have noihing of value bet or wagered upon the result of said election, anil am not a candidate at this election, and am not related to any persoii to be voted for at this election within the * egrees named in section three of the election law.*? Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ....., ..... • ••••• • • • • • > •. Sec.. 8. If no person present be authorized by law to administer the oath of office, the Inspector shall administer the same to the Judges, and one of sr.ch Judges shall then administer said oath to the Inspector. (To be continued.) < ■